Jaco Geuchies uses advanced (nonlinear) spectroscopic techniques to study the flow of energy, electrons and heat through various kinds of materials, ranging from colloidal nanocrystals (also known as quantum dots) to metal-halide perovskites and electrochemical systems. By creating ultrafast snapshots of the fundamental processes that govern the flow of energy, he aims to rationally manipulate materials to enhance their functionality in energy-related applications.

More information about Jaco Geuchies

Biography

For his bachelors degree, Jaco Geuchies studied chemistry at the Hogeschool Utrecht, followed by a master's degree in Chemistry & Physics: Nanomaterials at Utrecht University.

He wrote a proposal to fund his own PhD, which allowed him to set up a collaboration between Utrecht University and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, where he lived for a full year. Under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Vanmaekelbergh, Dr. Andrei Petukhov and Dr. Oleg Konovalov, he studied the self-assembly of PbSe nanocrystals at liquid-air interfaces, using a variety of X-ray scattering techniques at the ESRF.

He thoroughly enjoyed working with quantum-dots, and joined the group of Prof. Arjan Houtepen at Delft University of Technology. Here, he dived into the world of ultrafast spectroelectrochemistry (the combination of electrochemistry with fs laser spectroscopy), which he used to convert these quantum dots into extremely efficient light-amplifiers for lasing applications.

After diving into the world of fast spectroscopy in Delft, and being fascinated by many different nonlinear spectroscopic techniques which scientist developed around the globe, he joined the department for Molecular Spectroscopy at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, funded by the Alexander von Humboldt foundation. Working together with Prof. Mischa Bonn and Dr. Heejae Kim, he developed new multidimensional spectroscopic techniques in the THz frequency range. He used a plethora of ultrafast laser spectroscopies to study the interplay between electrons and lattice vibrations in metal-halide perovskite materials.

In his new position at Leiden University, he aims to combine knowledge on advanced materials development and ultrafast laser spectroscopy to study exciting materials related to energy-applications, and of course pass this on to a new generation of enthusiastic scientists.

Curriculum Vitae

Personal information

Nationality:   Dutch
Date of birth:   27 January 1990

Education

2013 - 2017   PhD, ondensed Matter and Interfaces, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, the Netherlands/European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble, France.
Thesis title: “Connecting the dots: shedding light on the self-assembly of semiconductor nanocrystals with synchrotron X-ray scattering techniques”
Advisors: Prof. Daniel Vanmaekelbergh (UU), Dr. Andrei Petukhov (UU), Dr. Oleg Konovalov (ESRF)
2011 - 2013   MSc Chemistry and Physics: Nanomaterials, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, the Netherlands (cum laude).
2007 - 2011   BSc Chemistry, Hogeschool Utrecht and Utrecht University, the Netherlands (cum laude).

Current and previous research positions

2024 – now    Assistant Professor, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, The Netherlands
2021 – 2024   Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral fellow, Molecular Spectroscopy department, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany (Prof. Mischa Bonn and Dr. Heejae Kim).
2017 – 2020   Postdoctoral researcher, Optoelectronic Materials section, Chemical Engineering department, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands (Prof. Arjan Houtepen).

Grants, awards, recognitions since 2016

2021    Alexander von Humboldt fellowship (75 k€)
2013    NWO/ESRF graduate program PhD grant (250 k€)

(Co)proposer of many synchrotron-based experiments using X-ray scattering and spectroscopy (>10 proposals for various amounts of beamtime) and obtained funding for advanced electron-microscopy time through a European Soft Matter Infrastructure program (5 days).

Publications